Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Trivial Matters
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Ah, it hurts like hell.
"Eek!?"
"Oh dear, a guy whining this much."
After fighting an Amber-level Demonic Beast that had appeared after a long time, and leaving behind Yu-na—who wasn't even the one who'd gotten chewed out but was suddenly fuming and huffing anyway—I'd arrived at the magical girl exclusive hospital almost like I was fleeing. There, I spoke to the doctor who was smirking mischievously as she applied red ointment to my arm.
"Whining...? That's too much, seriously."
No matter how you sliced it, this was a gash deep enough to expose the bone in my shoulder... I was lucky to have been transformed at the time, or if I'd taken a wound like this in my normal body, I'd have collapsed from shock for sure. With that in mind, I shot her a light glare.
"What, you want me to pat your head?"
The pink-haired girl—Aruel, the healing specialist magical girl doctor, who was a bit shorter than me even when transformed—stood from her seat and struck a pose like she was about to pat my head right then and there. A chill ran down my spine, so instead of answering, I just shook my head.
"There, treatment's done. It looks all patched up on the outside, but you should avoid any intense activity for a few days."
Just like that, my shoulder was back to normal without a single scar. I stared at it for a moment.
"...Thank you."
It wasn't even a wound bad enough for her to come out personally, but this kind adult always treated me in a private room to help keep my identity secret. I bowed my head in gratitude.
"Want me to drive you home today? It'll hurt a bit once you drop the transformation."
"I'm good. Not my first injury, and this is nothing. My phone's been blowing up nonstop—if I take too long to reply, Yu-na'll get suspicious."
"Yu-na as in that new junior magical girl who just joined?"
At the mention of Yu-na's name, Aruel-sensei flipped open the chart tucked under her arm with a curious look.
"Hmm... Well, enjoy it while it lasts. Have fun."
She grinned lewdly like a cat who'd spotted an amusing toy and started patting my shoulder.
"...Uh, yeah."
I could guess what misunderstanding she had, but explaining it point by point sounded exhausting... So I just brushed it off vaguely, slipped my shirt back on—which I'd taken off earlier—and stood up.
"Well, I'll be going then."
"Yeah. Show your face sometime when you're not hurt. Not just every time you get banged up."
"...I'll try."
With that, I bowed once more to Aruel-sensei—who looked so out of place in her white coat—and was about to leave the hospital when...
"Oh, right."
"Sensei?"
"Be careful of anyone with a camera from now on. They're getting really aggressive lately."
"Pardon...?"
She left me with that cryptic remark, waving quietly without even turning around. I just tilted my head in confusion... but it wasn't long before I understood what she meant.
"...What the hell is this now."
After leaving the hospital, I dropped my transformation in a secluded spot, listened to Yu-na's flood of complaints that had filled my messenger app in the meantime, and got home. I was lying on my bed, about to drift off while watching some cat videos, when a familiar-looking thumbnail caught my eye.
【Magical Girl Wrecking Our Neighborhood—Is This Really Okay?】
It wasn't a title I was dying to click, but... that all-too-familiar sight. A white bob-cut with a blue cape—that magical girl. I couldn't help but tap it, mesmerized.
The next day.
Thud thud thud...!
It wasn't so much the sound of someone running down the stiff hallway as the overwhelming pressure of a stampeding hippo. I didn't even need to think to know who it was.
"Senior—!"
I let go of the pull-up bar I'd been gripping since morning, sighed quietly... and spoke to the kid—Yu-na—who'd practically kicked down the door to the gym the company had set up for me.
"You'll break the door at this rate, you little punk."
"Gasp... You're not seriously... Huh? You're fine?"
"......"
"Uh, um... W-well, you see, Senior... D-did you, uh, see the video...? N-no, it's nothing...!"
I didn't need to see to know. She was pretending otherwise, but she loved magical girls as much as I did... maybe even more stubbornly. She'd definitely seen the video the algorithm pushed to her, just like me.
"You seriously skipped school and came running first thing in the morning over that?"
"Ack, wait, Senior... You saw it!?"
"It kept shoving it in my face whether I wanted to or not."
That sensational title, mosaicked or not—it was blatantly me, Magical Girl Seriel. I'd watched it plenty.
From what I could tell, some viewers had maliciously edited footage from the broadcast that one of the civilians I'd saved had filmed... Man, these things spread fast.
—A magical girl not using Boundary Inversion—is this okay?
—Testimonies from citizens harmed in the magical girl's fight.
—The magical girl who should protect citizens is destroying the city over personal grudges?
In short, it was arguing for more regulations on magical girls... perfect bait for people who hated us.
"Anyway, we've got plenty of time. Instead of biting and clawing at each other, they could do something productive."
With that, I took a step toward Yu-na—the fidgety girl who kept glancing at my body like she had something to say.
"Eek...! I-If Senior wants to, I'm fine with it, but... D-doing this first thing in the morning is kinda... I-I'm not ready yet...!"
She was suddenly clasping her hands together, twisting her body all weird and spouting nonsense—unlike her usual self. I quietly grabbed her shoulders, shoved her aside... picked up the T-shirt she'd left behind her, and said:
"Save the sleep-talking for school, sleepyhead."
It was 8:30 now, so factoring in travel time to her school... unless she transformed and flew, she was definitely late.
"By the way, if you're thinking of transforming to school, give it up. If you do, I'll transform too and drag you back."
Just in case she decided to proudly show up to school as a magical girl—name undecided and all—while panicking with her eyes spinning, I patted her shoulder and added:
"I'll at least call you a taxi."
No matter what, I wasn't about to coldly chase off a junior who'd come rushing here out of worry for me.
"Uwaaaah! H-hurry! Senior! Taxi, quick!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Finally scrambling to get ready for school, we left the gym together. I decided to toss a quiet remark to the boss lurking outside the door, watching me with worried eyes—totally unlike him.
"It's not like this is new. You guys worry too much over nothing."
This was just the usual crap I dealt with, happening online this time. Ignoring the dull ache deep in my chest like always... I slipped away with my usual light smile.
I didn't even need to wait until lunchtime to realize I was wrong.
"Ah, it's Seriel!"
"Over here, just one look please!"
Out on my usual patrol in transformed state around the city... that's when I noticed how many more people were recognizing and greeting me than normal.
Whew.
I stopped patrolling, caught my breath on the rooftop of a high-rise no one could access... and looked down at the civilians starting to gather below, apparently having spotted me climbing the building even from here.
'...Like bugs.'
The thought slipped out—they looked like bugs ready to burst underfoot—and I frantically shook my head with a sigh.
"I'm a bit tired, huh."
Shaking off the awful thought, I sat on the railing, gazed quietly at the sky, and reflected.
Eight years in, and I've milked it for a good long time. Rumors spread way faster now than before. It's fine for me to take the hate, but what if it hurts Yu-na later? I hope the other magical girls don't get treated like this.
...Maybe it's finally time to give up on my dream.
A world that doesn't need magical girls. I'd harbored that pipe dream.
—Your dream is wonderful. I'll cheer you on from now on!
There was once a partner who cheered on that silly dream. ...She said she'd be by my side, but leaving first was a bit much.
"...Yeah. Too early to quit."
Steeling myself, I stood.
Slap—!
I smacked my cheek hard with both gloved hands and looked down again.
Murmur murmur. Even from this height, the stirring crowd was noisy, but who cared. I'd just do what I had to—what I wanted to do.
Beep—! Beep—!
My cheap receiver beeped at my waist, and from afar... an ominous feeling crept in.
"Perfect timing for work."
Today, like always. To lend a hand toward a world without magical girls, I'd hustle.
I was used to the criticism, and most of it wouldn't even touch me—just trivial stuff like that.